Studying biology at the University of York is one of the greatest decisions I have ever made, and doing so has greatly nurtured my passion and fascination in my loved fields. I am so excited to be able to share my favourite aspects about studying biology at this beautiful campus!
The flexibility of the course
One of the attractive things about biology at York was its diverse options of modules that meant I could thoroughly explore subjects I was passionate about, and discover new ones as well. It is a great eye-opener for people coming to York who are yet uncertain what areas of science they wish to pursue further, since you’re not tied into a certain subject right away. But instead, you have the option to discover novel fields as you interact with specialised researchers through modules.
If you already have an interest, this can be further developed at York as well! With the large range of offered modules and electives (some combined with other university departments), there is something for everyone at York, and I really enjoy that you are not restricted to certain topics like with ‘traditional’ biology degrees. All lectures are taught by esteemed researchers, meaning they know their stuff and are happy to answer questions. I came into York really liking genetics, and now I am a big fan of neuroscience and immunology thanks to excellent lecturers and fascinating modules!
The plethora of lab skills and experiences
As part of your degree at York, you will have the opportunity to explore unanswered questions using lab skills. This means you get to become really specialised in the areas you’re interested in, and through these skills you appear incredibly desirable to employers and for internships.
This sets a great foundation towards your future steps, whether that is further study or employment. The skills at York range from lab to computational skills, which fully allows students to tailor their interests to biology outside of the laboratory. Here, RStudio is the coding language we learn, and since it is heavily used in data interpretation and analysis, it is another valuable example of the sort of skills you’d expect to learn during your time here.
York also has some open-book exams (which thankfully means not as much cramming of information into your brain) and through these, you learn other crucial skills such as data interpretation and experimental design. This is a pleasant way to learn these skills, since you’re not under pressure to learn a lot of information that you may not use in future, alongside coursework such as posters and science communication being other skills assessed! Since these are all crucial for a job in biology, as well as being transferable to other disciplines and careers, this is something truly unique at York that sets us apart.
Opportunity to do a summer placement alongside my degree
Thanks to GenerationResearch (https://generationresearch.ac.uk/), I was able to do a 10-week summer placement at the world-renowned Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell. It was one of the best experiences from my degree, and I learnt so many innovative skills including machine model learning, Excel and complex R skills! I discovered aspects of neuroscience I was previously unaware about, and being able to contribute to such cutting-edge research left me thrilled to do the same at York and in future.
I became really good friends with the other intern, and I was extra delighted to leave the centre with brilliant and unforgettable connections!
One thing I loved about this placement was the introduction to research outside of the laboratory (since it was mostly computational neuroscience) and university: understanding how mouse experimental models are crucial to science, and how they’re used for different fields.
I would thoroughly recommend a summer placement to anyone who does not want to commit to a full year but still wants an engaging and fulfilling research experience beyond their degree. I have no regrets!
The tight-knit community
Biology at York also has a welcoming, supportive and lovely community of researchers and students. There is a really relaxed boundary between the two, and it is great to be able to connect with world-renowned scientists and understand more about their research. There are plenty of opportunities to make friends in the department, whether it is through our societies or department events. Events are catered to everyone, e.g., BIO DISCO (Biology Disability Community) and drinking vs non-drinking events, so no one is left out and can have fun! I have made many friends during my time here, and despite it being initially overwhelming, you can make meaningful connections before long!
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